Drift kart build

[driftkartmat]

I thought i would start a build thread on my current project which i call the Driftkart!

My plan was to initially build a basic kart frame, throw on my honda gx160 i had laying around and leave it at that. little did i know at the time that it would consume all of my free time for the next year.

Ive uploaded a photo of how the Driftkart is looking today but lets first start with how it all began.

my parts list included: honda gx160, centrifugal 12 tooth clutch, 72 tooth sprocket, #35 chain, 1" solid axle, pillow block bearings, kart wheels, crappy fibreglass seat, steel and some old 50cc quad bike steering components.

I got out the grinder and stick welder and got stuck into it.


ill leave it at that for now, ive got hundreds of photos of the driftkart slowly progressing that ill start to throw up!

thanks for looking!

mat

 

[StratCat]

Absolutely Awesome. Great work

 

[chancer]

That looks like a lot of camber???

 

[driftkartmat]

That looks like a lot of camber???

Yes! Way too much camber, Although with the shell on I loved the stance look. It also helped with major steering angle during drifting but I'll get into that later!

 

[driftkartmat]

My frame was now coming together, steel i used was 25x25 rhs which was reasonably light and sturdy and wall thickness was good for the ol trusty stick welder.



Steering was next, i used some old parts from a 50cc quad bike.
The tie rods and ends were quite small and lightweight (still going strong today). the steering setup has now changed but this was a good starting point.



The steering geometry worked well, i searched some forums and got a basic idea of how it all worked. a bit of ackerman and caster and the kart "jacked" as it should. At the time there was no + or - camber, although my spindles were made from 10mm gal bolts which were a bit too small and bent leading to a huge amount of camber!

My unbreakable gx160 was then fitted and mocked up! starting to like like a proper go kart!



Next thing to do was connect up the motor to the axle, foot pedals, accelerator cable and exhaust but ill leave that for another day!

thanks for looking

mat

 

[driftkartmat]

Not long after i got everything else sorted to get the kart running, including a hand brake for some drift action!



First drive went great, although got a liitle wet! My straight through exhaust was quite loud aswell! sounded like a mini v8!



After driving the kart around for a week or so, i realised that the slick tyres where not going to let me drift! even in the wet it was difficult to get it sideways! Then i saw some trike drifting on facebook, they were using front tyres on the back with 250mm pvc pipe.

So i ended up buying some cadet rims and fitted a second hand set of tyres, a plumber mate got me some pvc pipe and i was set for some drifting!!!!!



Everything then spiraled from there!

mat

 

[landuse]

Looks awesome. I would get a floor pan in there though

 

[driftkartmat]

i got a few good drift sessions out of it before i needed to do some upgrades, so first thing was better steering as there was not enough steering angle once you where out sideways to hold a drift.

rack and pinion style sorta steering made using a kids bike cog, chain.



Also put in an alluminium flooring at work. did some mad skids in the underground carpark aswell after hours!

 

[ForceFed86]

Looks great, would really thin/tall tires up front help? How are you incorporating the brakes?

I was thinking of adding a lever attached to caster type wheels like on the "Razor" adult drift carts. That way you could retain some traction with the aft wheels and wouldn't need to run PVC. The lever would literally lift the aft wheels off the ground allowing them to spin.

 

[tonypaul]

Looks great, would really thin/tall tires up front help? How are you incorporating the brakes?

I was thinking of adding a lever attached to caster type wheels like on the "Razor" adult drift carts. That way you could retain some traction with the aft wheels and wouldn't need to run PVC. The lever would literally lift the aft wheels off the ground allowing them to spin.

Are you the same "forcefed86" from ls1tech?

---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------

Nevermind, its you... Just saw another pic with the Z in the background. Small world.

 

[itsid]

Oh that steering.... you are aware that chain cannot PUSH anything, are you?

With your current setup you might or might not be able to steer to the right,
solely depends on if the chain will find an easier way out.

That's just not a good idea at all..

IF you want to use chain, attach BOTH spindle links;
and make sure that the sprocket is always in contact with at least four to five cain rollers;
easiest way to achieve that is by adding two rollers (left and right to your sprocket).

'sid

 

[driftkartmat]

The steering actually works perfect, the chain isn't loose its welded along the entire length of the steel bar which slides back and doth in the channel I've made with a couple of pieces of steel.

Here's a video of me drifting the kart

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2MZOCuAiMPg

 

[Poboy kartman]

I thought that was what you did with the chain when I saw it. That's pretty ingenious. You basically made a rack and pinion, but instead of tooth on tooth, it's tooth on rollers. Do the chain rollers still spin or are they locked up from the welding?

 

[driftkartmat]

another quick video just drifting down he street

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcR-B4h2bf8&feature=youtu.be

 

[Connell]

where did you get the body for the kart, it looks awesome with the motor out the side

 

[driftkartmat]

cheers!
I made the body myself at work!

basically steps to make the body where:

make mdf car shape box
glue on polystyrene foam
shape foam
epoxy fibreglass over
pva release brushed over foam
polyester fibreglass body 3 layers 450gm chopstrand mat
bog and fair in
paint

 

[Connell]

wow, you have some skill

 

[ferio]

I wish you was state side, id pay for you to make a body for me lol. Looks good man!!

 

[Poboy kartman]

I could do it for a grand.....

EDIT: (Delivered, cheaper if you were closer)

 

[OzFab]

How did I miss this thread? Especially the fact that you're from Sydney

Great work, simple but effective